Challenges for integration of renewable energy in public grid

Abstract

Integrating renewable energy is one of the current and future subjects for the energy transition to CO2-neutral energy generation. New requirements, including grid and converter perspectives, must be considered as renewable power generation is carried out with power electronic converters. Inverter-based resources (IBRs) must meet grid connection regulations, forecasting options, time scheduling, storage options, and voltage quality. In this article, some essential requirements from the manufacturing perspective are described, and their testing procedure is displayed with the validation of simulation models. This paper further highlights the SICAM Power Plant Controller (PPC) for photovoltaic plants, enabling the plant operator to create generation forecasts for the next 2-3 days of power and energy. To be grid-code compliant, the PPC includes several functions to meet requirements, and its start-up sequence is also described. The system operator gains a grid-compliant model validated against site measurements. The procedures have been successfully applied to several IBR projects. Previews of new concepts to reach the future demands of integrating IBRs into the public grid are presented. Possible impacts on the power generation and components are assessed, and necessary countermeasures are applied with the influence and feasible solution for energy trading with IBRs. Future aspects of supra-harmonics and their impacts on public grids are described and presented as an outlook. This paper highlights the challenges of integrating IBRs and lessons learned based on project executions.